Group Tours at Craigdarroch Castle

A group tour of Craigdarroch Castle is a cost-efficient experience that your participants will always remember from their trip to the city of Victoria, British Columbia. With advance notice and minimum group size of 15 (10 for student groups), we provide a reduced admission rate. Group tours also receive an ENHANCED self-guided tour that allows everyone to take full advantage of all that the Castle has to offer at their own pace.

The tour begins outside the front door, under the Porte-Cochere, where your group will be given an over view of Craigdarroch Castle and the Dunsmuir family saga. Before entering they will also receive the floor map that guides them through this Victorian mansion. When your group is finished please take time to browse the Museum Gift Shop and relax in the Castle grounds before moving on to your next destination. We can accept groups as large as 150 and still provide an enjoyable tour which will meet even the most demanding time budgets.

For the young children in your group we have an I-Spy Tour to guide them while our  floor maps are available in English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Italian and Spanish.

For more information or to book your tour email groups@thecastle.ca or phone 250.592.5323 extension 34.

This legendary landmark is owned and operated by a non-profit society. Restoration and maintenance of this National Historic Site is funded almost entirely by admission fees and donations. Your tour will contribute directly to the ongoing conservation of Craigdarroch and the surrounding grounds.

Not wheelchair accessible
As the Castle is a historic house museum, there are no ramps or elevators and it is not wheelchair accessible. It is an easy climb up the 87 stairs and there are chairs for your use on all four floors.

Open daily 10:00am – 4:30pm
Extended hours from June 15th to September 6th: 9:00am – 7:00pm

We accept Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Interact and Traveller’s cheques

Group Admission rates as of January 2013

If you would like to see a few of the artifacts that fill the rooms throughout the castle please follow this link to our artifact manual.

Christmas School Tours at The Castle

During the holiday season Craigdarroch Castle offers teachers and students a unique glimpse into the traditions of Christmas past through our Christmas School Tour program. All tours will be led by professional actors dressed in period costume and in character as either the Castle’s Maid or Butler.

As you tour the Castle your students will learn the origins of many of our current Christmas traditions. The tour focuses primarily on Victorian Christmas traditions but there will be some information presented on the Dunsmuir family and the Castle. The tour also includes a craft activity that the students can take home.

This program is ideal for K to 6 with each tour’s program content adjusted to suit the age of the children attending. We offer weekday Christmas School Tours from December 1st until school lets out for the Christmas break; five tours per day. Morning tours are conducted at 9:15, 9:45, 10:45  & 11:15 a.m. followed by afternoon tours at 12:45 & 1:30 p.m. Tours last about 75 minutes (plus or minus 15 minutes depending on student involvement). The school tours of Craigdarroch Castle are charged at group rates and require advance reservation.

To help you manage your group we will admit one adult chaperone at no charge for every five paying students. Special needs attendants are not included in the 1:5 gratis allowance and are also admitted at no charge. Additional adult chaperones over the 1:5 ratio are admitted at our Group Adult rate.

If you would like more information, or wish to reserve a tour, please contact us at 592-5323, Ext. 34 or email groups@thecastle.ca.

Tour reservations will be accepted on a first come, first served basis starting in November.